Study: Customs wait times at Hartsfield-Jackson shorter than national average

You'll likely run into a line for Customs processing when flying internationally into Atlanta, but the lines are even longer at some other airports, according to a recent study.

The study by MileCards.com said the average Customs wait time at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport was 12 minutes, among the shortest for large airports.

Technology including automated passport control kiosks have helped to shorten Customs wait times over the past couple of years at the Atlanta airport, where 74 kiosks were installed in 2014.

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

U.S. Customs and Border Protection says other technology, such as its passport control app and Global Entry expedited screening program, has also helped to shorten lines.

CBP Atlanta port director Devin Chamberlain in a written statement said the Atlanta airport is "in the top tier of professionalism and efficiency.”

Three other big airports had shorter wait times: Phoenix, Charlotte and Washington Dulles.

But be warned that July and August are the worst months for Customs wait times, with an average of 21-22-minute waits nationally.

The worst airports for Customs wait times were Miami, San Francisco and New York's John F. Kennedy International, with average wait times of 24 to 27 minutes, according to the study.

MileCards.com said for the study it analyzed data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection for more than 90 million arrivals in the last year from more than 40 U.S. international arrival points.

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